The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin

09/27/2026

This , we're celebrating one of the most iconic ecosystems in the Midwest: the mighty Mississippi River basin. 💧

Encompassing 1.245 million square miles across two Canadian provinces and 31 U.S. states including Wisconsin, the Mississippi River and its tributaries nourish crops, transport goods, provide recreational opportunities and sustain robust fisheries. While the Basin is facing immense challenges like increasingly intense flooding, invasive species and more, TNC is working across the region to convene partners and implement key strategies that increase connectivity, support healthy habitats for wildlife and improve water quality.

Learn more about our work to protect the Mississippi River basin. https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/priority-landscapes/mississippi-river-basin/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_mw.x.x

09/22/2026

It's the first day of fall (aka the autumn equinox!! 🍁

For us, it's the start of the cozy season*, with hoodies, pumpkin spice, and crunchy leaves underfoot. But for wildlife in the Midwest, it's actual crunch time as they FALL into their winter routines. Some are stocking up. Some are slowing down. Some are scouting prime napping locations. (Relatable.) 🍁🎃

*At least it will be once the Midwest's second summer 🥵 ends.

09/21/2026

In case you missed it: Explore and plan your own paddling adventure on Wisconsin's Lake Michigan water trails in the most recent episode of Discover Wisconsin! Many thanks to the crew for including TNC's Mink River Estuary preserve and local colleague Mike Grimm in this great video.

Learn more about the Mink River: https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/mink-river-estuary/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_mw.x.x

This Discover Wisconsin episode explores the Lake Michigan watershe...

09/18/2026

Happy National Mushroom Month! 🍄 Mushrooms play an incredibly important role in Midwest habitats and ecosystems, from breaking down organic matter to helping trees and other plants share nutrients and information underground. Many of these fascinating fungi can be found at TNC preserves, so keep an eye out on your next visit!

Swipe through the images above for some fun fungi facts—and tell us your favorite mushroom fact or share a fungi photo in the comments below! 🍄‍🟫📸

09/17/2026

One voice can create a ripple effect downstream—quite literally in the case of the beloved Wabash River watershed. 🚣🏾 The people who live in and around a treasured natural area, like Pete, are often the biggest champions for their protection, which is certainly the case along the Wabash.

Thanks to the passionate partners and communities rooted in the watershed, TNC has been able to conduct extensive research to better understand how to protect it. One critical study conducted in 2010 changed everything, directing TNC to adopt a novel whole-river-systems approach to freshwater conservation.

Over 15 years later, this strategy has resulted in over 150,000 acres of effective floodplain restoration efforts in the Midwest. This fresh approach has helped to protect habitat in the Watershed that countless people and hundreds of rare and endangered species depend on while inspiring more far-reaching projects beyond the region.

Dive deeper into the power of partnerships in the Wabash River watershed. https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/indiana/stories-in-indiana/wabash-river/?en_txn1=s_p.reg_mw.eg.x.S2S.Organic.Social.FY27

09/14/2026

With autumn just around the corner, another era approaches for much of the Midwest: prescribed fire season. 🔥

Prescribed fire is a common stewardship practice utilized successfully by Indigenous people for millennia. Many forests and grasslands actually need fire to trigger cycles of renewal and growth, which is why TNC has promoted and expanded the use of prescribed fire for over 60 years.

In Wisconsin and many other Midwest states, the best seasons to conduct safe, effective prescribed burns are spring and fall. Not only are habitats most receptive to fire during this time, but it's also easier to prevent wildfires from occurring compared to the warmer, dryer summer months when overgrowth can act as kindling.

Discover more about how TNC leverages prescribed burns to restore and maintain a variety of native habitats in the Midwest and beyond. https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/priority-landscapes/midwest/stories-in-the-midwest/midwest-fire/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_mw.x.x

09/10/2026

Why did the bobcat cross the road? Because its habitat wasn’t protected by the Roadless Rule! 🐾

Established in 2001, the Roadless Rule prohibits new road-building and commercial timber harvesting on nearly 60 million acres of national forests and national grasslands. This rule has helped to protect vital habitat for hundreds of species, including grizzlies, salmon, lynx and wolves.

Now, the U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to rescind the Roadless Rule—threatening one of our country’s most promising and popular approaches to habitat protection and natural resources management.

Time is running out to speak up for nature—click the link below to raise your voice and tell the USDA to keep the Roadless Rule. 📢 https://www.regulations.gov/document/FS-2025-0001-223869

Photo by Jeff Wendorff

09/08/2026

Retailers play an important role in helping get more nature-friendly ag practices into our local farm fields. Retailers in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota and Iowa recently received $195,000 in funding from TNC's Foodscape program for equipment purchases that will help Driftless Area farmers adopt practices like cover crops, no-till, strip-till and precision nutrient management. These practices improve soil health and water quality and enhance on-farm profitability. TNC estimates that more than 55,000 acres of farmland may be impacted in the first year of funding.

We all win when farmers invest in nature.

Link: https://nature.ly/4xDcqkY

09/05/2026

✨ Happy National Hummingbird Day! ✨

To celebrate, we've got a bunch of wow-worthy facts 🤯 about the only breeding hummingbird species in the eastern U.S.—the ruby-throated hummingbird. Have you seen hummingbirds around your area this summer?

09/04/2026

Protecting the Roadless Rule means protecting wildlife. 💪 🐻

Roads can be dangerous for animals. Not only are speeding vehicles a major killer, but roads also fragment habitats and cut off migratory routes. Thankfully, the Roadless Rule has protected nearly 60 million acres of continuous wildlife habitat in national forests across the country.

But this rule is at risk of being rescinded and we need your voice!

✍️ Click the link below to leave a public comment on the proposed rule and tell the USDA to keep the Roadless Rule and stop threatening one of our country’s most promising and popular approaches to wildlife and habitat protection.

https://nature.ly/4cYK7oN

🐺Meet a few of the animals that depend on the Roadless Rule. 🐦